If your regular shop includes fresh food, leftovers and frozen food, start by comparing fridge-freezers: the fridge and freezer capacities need to match what you store in each. A compact model or a one-door fridge may be enough if you have limited storage needs; a multi-door model is only worth considering if you genuinely need the extra capacity and have enough room, including along the delivery route. Whatever the style, meal planning and keeping your fridge organised are essential for avoiding forgotten food, as ADEME reminds us.
If fresh food, drinks and ready meals need to last between shops, consider the usable capacity without assuming you’ll fill every shelf. Que Choisir links the choice of fridge style to how often you shop; Anses recommends not overfilling it so that air can circulate.
To find food containers easily and store sensitive items in the right zone, look at the internal layout as well as the capacity. ADEME recommends keeping your fridge organised; Anses stresses the importance of checking the temperature and protecting food.
Compare the freezer’s usable capacity and drawer access with the frozen food you usually buy. Que Choisir distinguishes this need from occasional use of the small freezer compartment in a one-door fridge.
First, choose a style that suits the available space and the amount of fresh and frozen food you need to store. Then compare the capacity of each compartment, the layout and the ways to monitor the temperature.
Consider it: if your shop for several days regularly includes fresh food, leftovers and frozen food.
Bear in mind: the total capacity doesn’t tell you how much space is in the freezer; compare both compartments.
Consider it: if fresh food is your priority and you only buy frozen food occasionally, or store it in a separate freezer.
Bear in mind: according to Que Choisir, a small freezer compartment isn’t suitable for regularly storing a supply of frozen food.
Consider it: if you live in a small home and only need to store limited quantities.
Bear in mind: check that its capacity will genuinely see you through until your next shop.
Consider it: if you need more capacity and easy access across several compartments.
Bear in mind: measure your kitchen and the entire delivery route before choosing a wide appliance.
| What matters | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Room for your shopping | Compare the usable fridge and freezer capacities separately, then check there’s space for containers of leftovers. | When my shopping needs to last several days, I want to be able to store fresh food and find leftovers without overfilling the appliance. Around 31% of consumers put this balance of storage space at the heart of their decision. |
| Temperature and storage | Find the coldest zone and plan to check its temperature. Anses recommends keeping it between 0 °C and +4 °C. | To keep home-cooked meals or sensitive food safe, I need to be able to protect them and store them in the right zone. Temperature control is the main priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Space for frozen food | Check the freezer’s usable capacity, along with the number and depth of its drawers. | If frozen food is often on my shopping list, a small freezer compartment may not have room for my usual supply. Around 25% of consumers prioritise freezer capacity. |
| Installation and use | Measure the space, access points and door clearance; also check the model’s energy label. | With a small kitchen or restricted access, I first want to be sure the appliance will fit through and that its doors can open. These constraints, along with the consumption shown on the energy label, are the main considerations for around 19% of consumers. |
Two appliances with a similar total capacity may divide the space differently between fresh and frozen food. The total alone won’t tell you whether your usual shopping will fit in the right compartment.
Compare the usable capacities separately and check that the drawers suit the sizes of frozen food you buy.
Extra space is no substitute for keeping track of what you have. ADEME recommends checking what’s left before you shop and organising your fridge regularly.
Keep leftovers and food to use soon somewhere visible, then adjust your shopping list to account for what you’ve already got.
A cooling feature advertised for a model doesn’t prove what temperature it will reach in your kitchen. Anses recommends keeping the coldest point between 0 °C and +4 °C.
Check the temperature, identify the cold zone and avoid overfilling the fridge.
An appliance may fit in its final position but not through a doorway or along a corridor. Samsung, for example, recommends measuring access points to check that the packaged appliance will fit.
Measure the space, door clearance and access all the way to the kitchen; check which services are actually included in the offer you choose.
Installation, changing the direction a door opens or disconnecting an old appliance may be separate services, so don’t assume they’re included.
The freestanding KGN39AIAU fridge-freezer is an example of a model with separate capacities for fresh and frozen food.
The CBNsfc 5223 is worth considering if dedicated compartments for fresh food are important to you.
The HFR3718ENMM multi-door model lets you explore a four-door layout if you have enough room.
The RM70F63NER is aimed at households considering a large-capacity multi-door fridge-freezer.
The built-in END5FE18S fridge-freezer is an option if your kitchen requires an appliance to be fitted into a cabinet space.
These models include fridge-freezers with separate compartments for fresh and frozen food, as well as a multi-door option for greater storage needs. Compare their compartments and overall dimensions with your usual shopping and kitchen space.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you’re looking for a multi-door model for shopping that includes fresh and frozen food. The product title lists four doors, Total No Frost and an E energy rating. Before choosing this style, check the delivery route and door clearance, and measure the actual temperature at the coldest point after installation.
Image unavailable
Consider this model if you’d like to divide your shopping between several compartments. The product title mentions Total No Frost, an E energy rating, Wi-Fi and My Zone. If you’re relying on a zone to store particular foods, check its settings; also measure the installation space and check the temperature once the appliance is up and running.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you prefer a fridge-freezer with the freezer at the bottom, keeping fresh and frozen food separate. The product title lists an E energy rating. Check that the space in each compartment suits your shopping, and make sure there’s enough clearance for installation and a way to check the fridge temperature.
Image unavailable
Worth a look if width is a concern in your home but you still want separate space for frozen food. The product title lists 153 l of fridge capacity, 74 l of freezer capacity and a width of 54 cm; it also mentions Low Frost and a reversible door. Check the height, depth and clearance needed before choosing this style.
Image unavailable
Consider this model if you want to compare the space for fresh and frozen food separately. The product title lists 182 l of fridge capacity, 71 l of freezer capacity, No Frost and 39 dB. Measure the space and access points before buying, then check the actual temperature at the coldest point after installation.
Anses recommends keeping the coldest point between 0 °C and +4 °C. Check it with a thermometer if needed: the type of cooling advertised for an appliance doesn’t, by itself, show what temperature it reaches in your home.
According to Anses, raw meat and fish, along with home-cooked dishes containing animal products, should go in the coldest zone, below 4 °C. Keep leftovers in suitable containers and avoid overfilling the fridge so that air can circulate.
Yes. Measure the space, door clearance and the entire delivery route, including corridors and the lift. Samsung recommends this in particular for its RM70F63NER multi-door model, which has a listed width of 912 mm; check the dimensions of the specific model you’re considering.
Check the energy label and specifications for the exact model, then compare them with the capacity you genuinely need. ADEME describes the label as a guide to help you choose; comparing appliances with very different capacities without considering how you’ll use them could lead to the wrong choice.